IIHF upheld a 20 game OHL suspension against Germany's Tom Kuhnackl last year as well. However, Germany didn't appeal because he was apparently going to miss the tournament anyway due to injury so I'm not sure if there's a precendence yet on the situation where an appeal was filed.

I have unfounded hope regarding the appeal and I'm not sure why. After the IIHF ruled against Matteau and USAH's appeal in the U-18 tournament, without merit or rule (until they changed their statutes and bylaws this September to put in place rules that would have made Matteau ineligible), I'm not sure why I'm hopeful that they'll rule against an actual rule this go around.

I'm with you on the unfounded hope thing. It seems an IIHF precedent that they try something out and then on appeal drop it.